Snake trapped in car in Athol freed with tickle

ATHOL — Police are called every night to serve and protect the public in crisis, but a call Wednesday night was a new one for Athol Police Officer Corey Brown.

"It absolutely was," he said.

The call that came in led to this dispatch report: "Officer assisting the Athol Fire Department with 7- foot- long snake, which is stuck in the engine of RP's (responding party's) vehicle. AACO (Athol animal control officer) en route."

Officer Brown said the story did not play out exactly as reported. There was a snake — a big snake.

A snake expert said it was a Colombian boa constrictor.

The snake was trapped in a vehicle, just not in its engine.

"The owner had it on his seat and it got into the heating duct area," Officer Brown said.

Basically the large snake slithered up under the dash and wound itself in there, enjoying the heat.

Officer Brown said the Fire Department was called in and helped take apart panels in the dash area. The rescue was aided by Assistant Animal Control Officer Patricia Russell and local snake enthusiast Dave Riley, who tickled the snake and got it to back out.